A few hours ago.

From early morning, Osen was full of discontent.

“Why have you been smiling since yesterday?”

After visiting the Count’s residence, Hertian’s condition had become strange.

When Hertian wasn’t speaking, he would look somewhere and let out chuckles.

Of course, he’s probably happy at the thought of marrying Anette.

Knowing he wanted to be asked, he asked despite knowing.

“Anette said I’m precious to her.”

After hearing yesterday that she cherished Cassian very much, the contents of the letters he had written, saving sleep time, flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope.

“Congratulations.”

Osen even applauded him as he was immersed in happiness.

Then suddenly, he became curious.

“I can’t imagine what Your Excellency was like before meeting the young lady.”

Hertian had always been with letters since his first meeting with Osen.

“Me from before?”

At that question, Hertian stopped walking and tried to remember a day from 5 years ago.

Soon, his red lips parted.

“I don’t even remember when that was now.”

He didn’t bother trying to look back on the past.

Back then, Hertian had no family to return to, and he was surrounded by enemies. He held a sword with delicate hands to protect himself, and spent lonely nights with fear as his companion. Only after meeting Anette did his colorless life begin to come alive.

“It was a useless question, Osen.”

Osen’s eyes blurred as he watched his sentimental master.

“You need to know if they’re precious to be happy, right? When will Your Excellency reveal your identity?”

Hertian had his own worries too.

When Cassian, who had been a close friend, found out it was him.

Afraid she might cancel the marriage.

Because the reason Anette had asked him to marry was just that she needed a refuge.

But, if he revealed his identity here, the kind-hearted Anette would obviously feel guilty for trying to use a friend as a means.

‘Not knowing how deeply I’ve fallen.’

However, it wasn’t the right timing to suddenly confess to Anette.

“I will reveal it.”

Hertian smiled as if he was pleased.

“After Anette has used me to her heart’s content. It won’t be too late to reveal it after that.”

After answering like that, he moved his steps.

The salon was bustling with its first guests. As soon as Hertian entered the salon, all the staff who spotted him stood at attention.

“Y-Your Highness, Duke Blanditiae. Welcome.”

Following that, a woman in fancy attire came out.

“Your Highness, the Duke. It’s an honor to have you visit. I’m Madam Luanna.”

The salon run by Luanna dealt with expensive and high-quality materials, one of the best in the capital.

“As you contacted us, we’ve prepared wedding dresses in advance. This way.”

Especially, getting married in Luanna’s wedding dress was a symbol of wealth and every woman’s romance.

“I’ll take the most expensive one here.”

His answer was plain.

“Wait. Commander… no, Your Highness.”

Osen, who had been watching his master precariously from the side, sighed at his master’s answer and intervened.

“You should look at the dresses first.”

“Don’t women like the most expensive ones? Am I wrong?”

“Who says that?”

“Max.”

At Hertian’s answer, Osen shook his head, thinking of the knights who had never met a woman.

“Not everything expensive is good. First, look at all the dresses the madam has prepared.”

The madam smiled at Osen and naturally guided the duke to the special customer room.

“It would have been disappointing if you just left. Now, sit here and look comfortably, Duke.”

As Hertian sat on the sofa, the madam and salon staff brought in dresses worn on slim mannequins one by one.

Was it because of the splendid lighting installed in the room?

The dresses placed before his eyes sparkled like the Milky Way.

“Indeed. Your skill is extraordinary.”

Osen was the first to admire. But to Hertian’s eyes, they all looked the same.

“They’re all luxurious and pretty. But what’s the difference?”

The ones with more jewels attached and the ones with less?

That was the only difference Hertian could feel. Osen spoke to him with a face that said he knew this would happen.

“Your Highness, you’re still far from understanding a woman’s heart.”

“I heard that at times like this, you should just buy them all.”

“Who said that?”

“Max.”

“I think it would be better to erase Max’s words from your mind. It’s sincere advice.”

Hertian frowned deeply and stared at the dresses. Not that an answer would come out just by doing that.

“I’ll just buy them all. Tell Anette to choose what she wants.”

He pulled out a blank check nonchalantly. But even that was stopped by Osen.

“Then what, what should I do?”

Osen carefully pocketed the blank check and calmly persuaded Hertian.

“Now. Imagine. Picture Lady Leanberia coming out wearing those dresses.”

“Anette…?”

Hertian’s face became quite serious as Anette’s name was mentioned.

“Yes. That first dress. How do you think it would look if the young lady wore it?”

Her name was like a spell.

Hertian easily imagined Anette coming out wearing the first dress, as if he was entranced.

“Anette has smooth shoulder lines, so a dress with open shoulders like that would surely be beautiful. I like that there are many jewels embedded in the chest area. But I don’t like that not only are the shoulders exposed, but the waistline is revealed too. I don’t want other guys to see that.”

These were the words of someone who didn’t even know the ‘D’ of dress. When he applied Anette to it, the answer came out more meticulously than a designer’s.

“That’s exactly it. You need to look at each one carefully like that.”

Hertian smiled with satisfaction as he looked at several dresses alternately.

“You’re useful after all.”

“I may not know much else, but I’m an expert in this. I have four older sisters, you know.”

Osen might not have much dating experience, but being dragged to salons by his sisters was an everyday occurrence, so choosing dresses was a piece of cake for him.

So Hertian seemed to be smoothly choosing a wedding dress.

Until he saw the letter from Count Leanberia refusing the marriage.

And the current situation.

Hertian, who had rescued Anette from the ship, was filled with great anger.

Until just a day ago, there had been talk of marriage, but not only did they notify him that they couldn’t marry in such an impersonal way, but she was dating another guy?

Hertian’s eyes rolled when he heard the news that Anette was dating another nobleman.

He only thought about seeing her right away. Even if he heard her directly say she wanted to cancel the marriage, he wouldn’t be able to accept this situation, but he felt he needed to see her face to face to be satisfied.

But, when he finally faced Anette, she lost consciousness covered in blood in front of him. He felt like his eyes were rolling for a moment.

“How did Anette end up alone in the lake? And why in this physical condition?”

“According to the ship’s manager, the young lady suddenly boarded the ship and hid herself. As it’s a ship with magic cast on it, it’s set to depart automatically after a certain time if someone boards.”

At Osen’s answer, sharp eyes turned towards Edward.

‘Because of this fool.’

He was already angry that the weak Anette had collapsed.

“You’re saying you made her like this.”

“No! I was just waiting because the young lady said she was going to wash her hands. Suddenly, she boarded the ship alone…”

“Pathetic excuses. It was wrong to bring her to the lake in the first place.”

“What?”

Edward, who had been making excuses with his head bowed, finally raised his head.

“Didn’t you know that Anette had an accident where she fell into water when she was young?”

Hertian asked accusingly. Just looking at Edward’s eyes clouded with confusion, he could know the answer.

“That… that…”

“Well. You probably weren’t interested since she was just a political marriage partner.”

Edward’s face darkened rapidly.

“No. That’s not it!”

“Get out. Anette won’t marry you anyway.”

A cold voice echoed in the hospital room. The atmosphere, frozen like ice, didn’t seem likely to thaw anytime soon.

“N-No. Not that. I will apologize to the young lady in person. I will.”

Edward pleaded with Hertian with trembling lips. He tried to stand firm on his two legs.

“Just until the young lady wakes up…”

“I said get out.”

However, it was difficult to approach Hertian’s aura as he stood firmly in front of Anette. As if he had cast a barrier around her.

Edward felt frustrated at the thought that he might never see Anette again after meeting her after a long time.

“This doesn’t concern Your Highness the Duke, does it? I don’t know how you’re related, but I’m grateful you saved the young lady, but this is a matter between me and the young lady.”

He shouted towards the duke, not knowing to be afraid due to frustration.

Hertian’s brow furrowed.

First, because he was worried Anette, who was sound asleep, might wake up.

Second, because he was disgusted by this worm-like guy persistently clinging to Anette.

Lastly.

“A matter between you two? There’s no such thing. Not now, not ever.”

Edward tried to retort, his lips quivering, but then he shut them tight like a clam. He wanted to argue, but he just chewed on his innocent lips. The duke’s voice was enveloped in anger as if he might tear his neck like a beast.

“That’s enough, so leave. Don’t appear in front of Anette again.”

At Hertian’s sharp order to leave, Edward bit his nails and timidly retorted.

“Today’s meeting was requested by the Count himself…”

“So you’re going to meet again?”

“But, I will meet whenever the Count arranges a meeting.”

Soon, Hertian’s stiffly frozen expression cracked. If this were a battlefield, it would be a look that could tear a person apart.

“Is it because you grew up preciously at home, that you can’t understand when spoken to nicely?”

“…”

“Do I need to make you see blood to understand properly?”

The killing intent permeating the hospital room was dizzying. Finally, Osen, who had been silently watching the pitiful one who couldn’t even straighten his shoulders under Hertian’s pressure, stepped forward. At this rate, it seemed Edward might need to be hospitalized too.

“Oh my, how pitiful you are.”

He patted Edward’s back a few times, trying to safely escort him out.

“Leave the young lady to us and go back now.”

And he subtly pushed his back. It was also giving him a chance to slip out quietly.

“Sob. What did I do wrong!”

However, contrary to expectations, Edward burst into sorrow at the consolation offered out of courtesy.

“Why does everyone tell me to give up on the young lady? Both His Highness the Prince and Your Highness the Duke…”

“Hey. Calm down first.”

“The Count also permitted it. But why! Why is everyone doing this to me!”

Osen stepped back, thinking he had done something unnecessary. Of all times, to run into the duke who was furious after receiving the Count’s letter. How unlucky.

“Do you want to show an even uglier side?”

Hertian’s head tilted. Edward had nothing to lose now. He knew if he was driven out like this, he might never see Anette again.

“The young lady. No, Anette is not just a political marriage partner to me.”

Hertian contemplated kicking the back that was standing firm, but soon withdrew his foot seeing him collapse to the floor as if crumbling. Clear tears dropped from Edward’s eyes.

“…Sob. Anette is my first love…”

“…”

“And it’s been unrequited love for 3 years…”

It wasn’t something to say in front of a duke he was meeting for the first time. It wasn’t something he thought he’d say while crying. But it was better than going back like this.

“Give up.”

However, Hertian coldly spat out without showing a shred of sympathy on his face. Thanks to that, Edward’s tear-stained face contorted even more miserably.

“Give up… Is a person’s heart so easily, sob, given up? If only I could…”

“Five years.”

Hertian, who had been silently looking down at him, cut off his words and said.

“What…? Sob, what’s five years?”

Edward raised his bowed head, expressing doubt at the duke’s sudden words.

“You’ve only been at it for 3 years, but for me, it’s 5 years.”

The time of unrequited love.

Edward’s eyes blinked as he understood the meaning. Osen shook his head at his master’s confession as if he couldn’t stop him.

“Get lost, you greenhorn.”